East and West Pacific Tropical Cyclone Seasons Begin With a Bang

The July 3 start date for the 2016 season's first named storm is the second latest start date in the 66-year period of record. Only 1998, with a July 8 start date, had a later start. All three of these late-starting years--2016, 1998, and 1973--featured strong El Niño conditions transitioning to neutral or La Niña conditions later in the year